If you’re thinking about renovating your Carolina home in the coming weeks or months, you’ve probably begun researching what types of home services experts you’ll need to hire to help you through the process. The odds are good that you’ve seen information about both construction and general contractors. Knowing which building professional is right for you, though, can be a challenge.
Here, you’ll discover key differences between construction managers and general contractors. This information should help you figure out which type of home services professional you need for your next project. The more you know about residential remodeling, the easier it will be for you to oversee any work on your North Carolina or South Carolina property.
Construction managers
Construction managers plan construction projects, both residential and commercial, from the ground up. They do everything from pre-construction tasks like meeting with architects and assisting with budgets to providing on-site supervision of crew members. They also ensure safety protocols are followed every step of the way.
Construction managers are typically at the top of the hierarchy on any construction site. They may, for instance, oversee site managers and others who perform similar roles. As a general rule, a construction manager is not necessary for a fairly standard remodeling project, such as a kitchen renovation or a one-room addition.
If, however, you plan to construct an entirely new custom home in the Carolinas, it would be wise to work with a construction manager who can help you oversee every detail of the project. Real estate developers and commercial builders also hire construction managers on a regular basis.
General contractors
In contrast to construction managers, general contractors are typically hired after a project has been designed. Where construction managers often play a role in creating blueprints and doing other pre-construction tasks, general contractors come in on the first day of groundbreaking.
Most of the time, residential remodeling jobs call for general contractors. These professionals can oversee the day-to-day operations on a worksite, know when to hire subcontractors for specialty work, and act as a liaison between homeowners and other members of the construction crew. General contractors also tend to do more hands-on construction work than construction site managers.
Both of these categories of home service professionals are skilled at what they do and are able to fill many of the same roles. Typically, construction managers charge more than general contractors, but this isn’t always the case. Most site coordinators in either category work with clients on a case-by-case basis to determine how much they will charge. Furthermore, depending on experience, a general contractor could be higher priced than a construction manager.
Hopefully this information will help you as you begin hiring a team to help with your upcoming residential renovation or construction project. There are many highly qualified construction managers and general contractors throughout the Carolinas, so you should have no trouble finding a reputable professional who serves your area. If you are interested in learning more about the services the Hatch Homes team offers, don’t hesitate to give us a call anytime.